Master Sommelier at Gusbourne, Laura Rhys, handpicks her favourite wine bars in London...

Here in London, we’re spoilt for choice – so many fantastic venues to go to drink beautiful wines. I’ve tried to narrow it down to just five great places to enjoy a glass or two, but be assured there are many more places to discover!

Cabotte:

One of this year’s hottest new openings comes from two Master Sommeliers – Xavier Rousset and Gearoid Devaney. Both of whom have a wealth of experience in the London restaurant scene and bring it to this exciting new restaurant with equal measures of passion and dedication. The wine focus is certainly Burgundian, with beautiful classics and interesting rarities, but the wine list is a treasure trove in many more ways too. Beautifully executed French cuisine from Edward Boarland matches the wine list perfectly.

110 Taillevent:

The London sister of the iconic two Michelin star restaurant in Paris. With 110 wines by the glass, paired with the seasonally inspired, French brasserie dishes, this is a perfect place to discover an inspiring food and wine pairing, from champagne to sake, with much more in between. Head sommelier Christopher Lecoufle has created an exciting list of wines, all served by the glass, spanning many different price brackets, so there’s always something new to try.

Noble Rot:

Noble Rot started out as a new, exciting food and wine magazine, launched in 2013 by Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew – it brings together food, wine and art in a totally innovative way and has been a great success. The wine bar and restaurant in Bloomsbury opened in 2015 and has been equally successful, with a fantastic list of well priced, rare and interesting gems and cooking overseen by Stephen Harris and Paul Weaver from Michelin StarredThe Sportsman in Whitstable.

Bubbledogs:

The brainchild of Sandia Chang and her husband James Knappett, Bubbledogs serves exactly what it’s name suggests: hand made hotdogs and a comprehensive and exciting list of grower champagnes. The restaurant is tucked away on Charlotte Street, with exposed brickwork, high tables and a great atmosphere. Also, check out the small but perfectly formed Kitchen Table, their Michelin starred 14-seater restaurant located behind the curtain at the back of Bubbledogs. (For anyone who’s a little unsure –let me tell you that the bubbles and the dogs are fantastic partners.)

Andrew Edmunds:

A real Soho stalwart, with tables pushed close together, a beautifully frenetic atmosphere and one of the most interesting wine lists in the city. The mark-ups are famously kind, but its more than that, there’s always a bit of excitement because you are never quite sure what gem you might find on your next visit.

Laura Rhys MS is a member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and a past holder of the UK Sommelier of the Year Title ( 2009). Having most recently overseen the award-winning wine list at one of London’s finest restaurants (La Trompette), Laura joined the Gusbourne team in early June 2016, and intends to continue in her UK and global wine judging roles (which have previously included the Decanter World Wine Awards, the Imbibe Sommelier Wines Awards, Bacchus Wine Awards in Madrid and UK Sommelier of the Year).

Her position will cover Gusbourne’s development both overseas and in the UK, at a time when Gusbourne is already listed by some of the finest luxury stores.

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wining and dining...